Film cartridge carrier

ABSTRACT

A portable container that stores film cartridges so that a camera user can take unused film from a bottom dispensing opening.

United States Patent 1191 Klein, Sr. 5] Dec. 23, 1975 15 1 FILM CARTRIDGE CARRIER 1.220.957 3/1917 Conway 206/216 1,340,957 5/1920 Hummel 224/5 V [76] /1 1.505.884 8/1924 Go1dquist.... 150152 J Whmng $1., Alexandna. Va. 22304 1.513.176 10 1924 Lyde 150/52 J 22 Filed; Jam 2 1975 2,308,003 1/1943 Gamrod.............................. 224/5 V [21] Appl' s42288 Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson. Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or FirmJ0hn J. Byrne; Edward E. [52] US. Cl 224/5 R; 150/52 J; 206/316; Dyson 206144.12; 224/5 V; 312/42 [51] Int. Cl. A45C "/00; A45C 11/38;

B651) 83/00 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 206/316, 425, 216; A portable container that stores film cartridges so that 150,52 J; 312/42; 2245 V1 5 R a camera user can take unused film from a bottom dispensing opening. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Claim. 5 Drawing Figures 443.130 12/1890 Butler 206/425 US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,927,809

US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,927,809

provided to close a top feed and a dispensing bottom which flaps are readily operable.with one hand of a user. i

The carrier of this invention is compact and is easily loaded by a user. It is readily carried by a cameraman without affecting his picture-taking techniques.

In the use of portable cameras, especially of the type normally using super 8 mm film, it is often necessary to change film at a critical time in the action sequence being taken. In such instances, time is critical and a principal objective of this invention is to permit a user to have a supply of film readily available in an orderly fashion to be inserted in the camera and by which the exposed film can be readily stored in the same container.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a carrying case which is rugged, easily manufactured, and can be produced at a cost within the reach of camera users.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the film carrier in its closed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the lower flap open;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an inner liner.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral indicates the film carrier of this invention. The carrier is comprised of three basic elements; namely, an inner liner 11 (FIG. 4), a cover of flexible material 12, and a strap 13. The material 12 covers all exterior surfaces of liner 11 and the two together make up certain elements of the invention. The cover 12 is of a flexible material such as leather, vinyl or plastic and is secured to an inner liner 11 as shown in FIG. 5. In the interest of clarity, these certain elements are numbered in the regular fashion and the corresponding elements of the liner are given the same numerals with the addition of prime marks.

The carrier is comprised of a front wall 14, a rear wall 15 and a pair of side walls 16 and 18. The case is elongated and has a top 20 and a bottom 22. The liner 11 can be sheet metal, plastic or the like. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the liner has an open top 20' and is formed with an opening 26 between the bottom plate 22' and the lower edge 28 of front wall 14. Contiguous with the opening 26 is a finger notch 30 extending upwardly into the front panel 14' and a bottom finger notch 32 which is formed in the bottom plate 22'. The cross-section of the case, as represented by the opening 20', is congruent and slightly larger than the periphery of one of the film cartridges C. As seen best in FIG. 4, the

2 cartridges Care stacked. In the embodiment shown, the container has a sufficient length to contain twelve separate cartridges. The opening 20' is closed by way of a flap 40 having a spring-biased member 42 engageable with a securing loop 44 on the front panel 14. This securement can be accomplished with one hand.

A flap 50 encloses the lower end of the case. The flap 50 includes three primary sections; namely, a portion 52 which is secured to the bottom 22' by an adhesive or the like; a second portion 54 connected to the portion 52 along the pivot line or depression 56; and a front portion 58 terminating in a spring-biased clip section 60 which interengages with the loop 62. Loop 62 is secured to the front 14 by way of a bracket 64.

A strap 13 circumscribes the case and is secured to the side walls 16 and 18 by bracket loops 72. The strap is of the type which is sufficiently long so as to be conveniently draped over the shoulder of a wearer. It is important to note that bracket loops 72 are arranged midway of the depth of the side walls so that the bottom section 76 of the strap is disposed over the pivot depression 56. It is in this manner, that the strap 76 reinforces the flap 50 at its point of greatest stress and weakness.

In operation, eleven cartridges (if that many are to be used) are removed from their outer packaging and slipped into the container in the manner seen in FIG. 4. The top cartridge does not have its paper removed and acts as a marker" to indicate to the user that he has exhausted his supply of film when it reaches the stack bottom. As a cartridge C is removed from the bottom through opening 26 as facilitated with finger notches 30 and 32, the exposed cartridge that is removed from the camera is placed through opening 20 on top of cartridge C.

Thus, those cartridges above C' have been exposed and those below are still available for use by the operator. Therefore, it can be seen that there has been provided a container which is readily usable by a cameraman. He can change his film in seconds and is immediately alerted as to when his current supply of unexposed film has been exhausted. Moreover, the exposed film is returned to and remains in the container in the order in which it was used so that a cameraman can mark it sequentially before development. The unit is also not only convenient to carry and attractive but uses its carrying strap to support the weakest element of the container; i.e., the hinge depression of the lower flap. The latter feature contributes to the long life of the container.

In a general manner, while there has been disclosed an effective and efficient embodiment of the invention, it should be well understood that the invention is not limited to such an embodiment, as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A case for holding a plurality of generally flat, thin cartridges having a rectangular periphery and a depth comprising,

an elongated case having an open top and having a rectangular cross-section that is slightly larger and congruent to said periphery such that said case can receive a stack of said cartridges through said open top,

a first section having a pivot line along said bottom, said pivot line extending perpendicular to each of said side walls and approximately midway between said front and said rear panels,

a second section pivotally connected to said first section and foldable upwardly so as to close said opening,

inter-engaging means on the outer end of said second section and said front panel for securing said bottom cover thereto, and a carrying strap circumscribing said case and traversing said bottom along said pivot line whereby said strap will give support to said pivot.

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1. A case for holding a plurality of generally flat, thin cartridges having a rectangular periphery and a depth comprising, an elongated case having an open top and having a rectangular cross-section that is slightly larger and congruent to said periphery such that said case can receive a stack of said cartridges through said open top, said case defined by a front panel, a back panel, a pair of side panels and a bottom, said front panel terminating a distance from said bottom slightly greater than said depth to form an opening sufficiently large to remove the bottommost cartridge of said stack of cartridges, a first finger notch formed in said front panel and a finger notch formed in said bottom and said notches forming a part of said opening, a pivotal cover at said top for selectively opening and closing said open top, a boTtom cover having, a first section having a pivot line along said bottom, said pivot line extending perpendicular to each of said side walls and approximately midway between said front and said rear panels, a second section pivotally connected to said first section and foldable upwardly so as to close said opening, interengaging means on the outer end of said second section and said front panel for securing said bottom cover thereto, and a carrying strap circumscribing said case and traversing said bottom along said pivot line whereby said strap will give support to said pivot. 